Building a full NFL roster from Rams teams over the past 25 years
With the NFL heading into the 2025 season, there are many that will be looking at the last 25 years of the NFL as a whole and celebrate the great teams over that time period. A couple of weeks ago, ESPN published a 53-man NFL “All Quarter Century Team” and Philly Voice’s Jimmy Kempski did an all-Philadelphia Eagles version. That got me wondering what a Rams version would look like.
Note: the players will be judged by their level of play specifically with the Rams beginning in the year 2000. In other words, while Von Miller is a first-ballot Hall of Fame player, he won’t make the team. Similarly, Robert Woods’ NFL career wasn’t great, but he had moments of stardom in Los Angeles.
QB (3): Matthew Stafford, Kurt Warner, Jared Goff
A case could probably be made for Marc Bulger. He played eight seasons for the Rams, surpassing 22,000 passing yards and 120 touchdowns. Bulger leads the Rams in passing yards and touchdowns since 2000. Still, Matthew Stafford led the Rams to a Super Bowl win in 2021. Warner didn’t have the longevity, but he did have an MVP season in 2001. Jared Goff has two Pro Bowl appearances like Bulger, but has the playoff run in 2018 and overall team success that gets him over the edge.
RB (3): Marshall Faulk, Todd Gurley, Steven Jackson
This trio are very clearly the three best running backs for the Rams during this period. Both Faulk and Gurley have Offensive Player of the Year awards while Jackson surpassed 10,000 yards. Jackson also became the team’s all-time leading rusher during this era. The Rams have some of the best running backs in NFL history and to get these three all within a 25 year period underscores that.
WR (6): Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce, Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, Puka Nacua, Tavon Austin
Torry Holt leads Rams receivers with 817 receptions and 11,800 yards during this period. From 2000-2005, he set a league record with six consecutive seasons with 1,300 yards. Cooper Kupp may only have two 1,000 yard seasons, but he won the triple crown in 2021. That season will go down as one of the best of all-time for a wide receiver. Woods and Nacua round out the group. It may seem crazy to have Tavon Austin in here, but we need someone who can return punts. Austin led the Rams with 1,300 punt return yards and three punt return touchdowns.
TE (4): Tyler Higbee, Gerald Everett, Ernie Conwell, Johnny Mundt
For as great as the Rams have been on the defensive line, wide receiver, and running back, the opposite can be said about tight end. Tyler Higbee is a lock, but after that, it’s hard to choose. Gerald Everett may not have signed a second contract, but will always have his game-winning touchdown catch against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football. A case could be made for Lance Kendricks, but Mundt is a core special teams player and arguably the best blocking tight end that the Rams have had in this era. Meanwhile, Ernie Conwell was the primary tight end for the Greatest Show on Turf and brings blocking and receiving ability.
OL (10): Orlando Pace, Rodger Saffold, John Sullivan, Adam Timmerman, Rob Havenstein, Andrew Whitworth, Austin Corbett, David Edwards, Kevin Dotson, Harvey Dahl
The starting offensive line in this scenario would be Orlando Pace and Rodger Saffold on the left side with Adam Timmerman and Rob Havenstein on the right side. Havenstein leads all Rams offensive linemen with 141 starts since 2000. John Sullivan may have only played two years for the Rams, but he was very good at center in 2017 and 2018. Andrew Whitworth provides good depth at tackle while Kevin Dotson has been one of the best run-blocking guards in the NFL with the Rams. Finally, Harvey Dahl brings good depth and an attitude that the Rams need on the offensive line.
EDGE (4): Leonard Little, Robert Quinn, Chris Long, Jared Verse
At his best and before the back injury, Robert Quinn was one of the best pass rushers in the NFL. He was drafted 14th overall in 2011 and had 19 sacks in 2013 with seven forced fumbles. Quinn finished with 108 quarterback hits with the Rams. Meanwhile, Leonard Little leads all Rams players with 87 sacks during this period. Chris Long may have been drafted second overall by the Rams, but he has embraced his time with the Eagles and Patriots much more than his time with the Rams. That makes sense as he won Super Bowls with both teams. Still, he is one of the most accomplished Rams pass rushers in this time period. While Verse is only a rookie, he won Defensive Rookie of the Year and began to fill the shoes of Aaron Donald.
DL (6): Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers, Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske, Kendall Langford, A’Shawn Robinson
The Rams defensive line during this era would stack up against any group in the NFL. This is a group obviously led by Aaron Donald who leads Rams defensive linemen in sacks during this time period. He’s the only player to eclipse 100. Michael Brockers was never special, but he was a solid player while Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske are becoming franchise staples. As depth, Kendall Langford and A’Shawn Robinson were good role players.
LB (4): James Laurinaitis, Will Witherspoon, Ernest Jones, Cory Littleton
James Laurinaitis was the heart and soul of the Rams defense when they were a very bad team from 2009-2015. He deserved much more success than what he got with the Rams, but accumulated 854 tackles which is over 300 more than any Rams player in that past 25 years. Ernest Jones only played three years for the Rams and just one as a full-time starter. However, he was the starting linebacker in the Super Bowl. Littleton was a free agent bust after he left the Rams, but brings special teams value and is a good story as he worked his way up to a starter as an undrafted free agent.
CB (6): Jalen Ramsey, Aeneas Williams, Trumaine Johnson, Janoris Jenkins, Darious Williams, Troy Hill
It can be argued that Ramsey is one of the best cornerbacks in Rams history. He was a three-time First team All-Pro and was a major piece of the defense that won the Super Bowl. While Aeneas Williams’ time with the Rams was short-lived, he was a First team All-Pro selection in 2001 and two-time Pro Bowl selection. Trumaine Johnson leads Rams cornerbacks in interceptions and passes defended in this era while Jenkins leads in interceptions returned for a touchdown. Both Williams and Hill deserve their spot in Rams history. Hill is one of six cornerbacks to play more than 50 games.
S (4): John Johnson III, OJ Atogwe, Jordan Fuller, Adam Archuleta
John Johnson III and OJ Atogwe are the only locks at safety for the Rams. Arguments could be made for Taylor Rapp and Lamarcus Joyner as well. Still, Fuller was a captain on the backend and Archuleta had over 400 tackles in four years. John Johnson III will always be known for his interception against the New Orleans Saints to help win the 2018 NFC Championship game.
STs (3): Greg Zuerlein, Johnny Hekker, Jake McQuaide
There really isn’t much of a debate for special teams. Greg Zuerlein made some important kicks in his Rams career while Hekker became the best punter in franchise history. The long-snapper for those two players was Jake McQuaide.